# Which Housing Portals Work in Germany? (2026) > Where German flats are actually listed: ImmoScout24, immowelt, Kleinanzeigen, WG-Gesucht, Wunderflats and HousingAnywhere compared on inventory, English support and whether the address allows Anmeldung. By Jules de Bruin · URL: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/housing **ImmoScout24** has the deepest inventory, around **513,000 active listings**, and **immowelt** carries the private landlords it misses. **Kleinanzeigen.de** has the largest private supply and the worst scam exposure, and **WG-Gesucht.de** is where a room in a shared flat is found. The real newcomer problem is not inventory but the [SCHUFA record you do not have yet](/moving/renting-as-a-foreigner), which is why furnished platforms such as **Wunderflats** are the usual bridge. Check in writing that the address permits [**Anmeldung**](/moving/address-registration) before you book anything. ## How Do the German Housing Portals Compare? | Portal | Type | Best for | | --- | --- | --- | | [ImmoScout24](https://www.immobilienscout24.de/) | national portal | Long-term flats once you have SCHUFA and payslips | | [immowelt (AVIV Group)](https://www.immowelt.de/) | national portal | Mid-sized cities and private landlords the leader misses | | [Kleinanzeigen.de, Immobilien](https://www.kleinanzeigen.de/) | classifieds | Commission-free direct rentals and short-notice offers | | [WG-Gesucht.de](https://www.wg-gesucht.de/) | flatshare portal | A room in a shared flat, in English | | [Immonet.de](https://www.immonet.de/) | national portal legacy | Legacy listings moving into immowelt | | [ohne-makler.net](https://www.ohne-makler.net/) | regional no commission | Commission-free rentals in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg | | [Wohnungsbörse.net](https://www.wohnungsboerse.net/) | regional no commission | Private landlords in smaller cities | | [Immobilienportal der Sparkassen (immobilien.sparkasse.de)](https://immobilien.sparkasse.de/) | regional bank network | Regional and small-town listings through local agents | | [Wunderflats](https://wunderflats.com/) | furnished temporary | Furnished bridging flats with Anmeldung-capable addresses | | [HousingAnywhere](https://housinganywhere.com/) | furnished temporary | Booking a furnished room from abroad | [ImmoScout24](https://www.immobilienscout24.de/)Typenational portalBest forLong-term flats once you have SCHUFA and payslips[immowelt (AVIV Group)](https://www.immowelt.de/)Typenational portalBest forMid-sized cities and private landlords the leader misses[Kleinanzeigen.de, Immobilien](https://www.kleinanzeigen.de/)TypeclassifiedsBest forCommission-free direct rentals and short-notice offers[WG-Gesucht.de](https://www.wg-gesucht.de/)Typeflatshare portalBest forA room in a shared flat, in English[Immonet.de](https://www.immonet.de/)Typenational portal legacyBest forLegacy listings moving into immowelt[ohne-makler.net](https://www.ohne-makler.net/)Typeregional no commissionBest forCommission-free rentals in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg[Wohnungsbörse.net](https://www.wohnungsboerse.net/)Typeregional no commissionBest forPrivate landlords in smaller cities[Immobilienportal der Sparkassen (immobilien.sparkasse.de)](https://immobilien.sparkasse.de/)Typeregional bank networkBest forRegional and small-town listings through local agents[Wunderflats](https://wunderflats.com/)Typefurnished temporaryBest forFurnished bridging flats with Anmeldung-capable addresses[HousingAnywhere](https://housinganywhere.com/)Typefurnished temporaryBest forBooking a furnished room from abroadSource: portal websites and company reporting, accessed 20 August 2026. Listing counts fluctuate seasonally. ## Which Portal Should You Use? All 10 portals in our catalogue, from the national leaders to the commission-free regional boards and the furnished platforms newcomers actually start with. ### ImmoScout24 Deepest inventory. The market leader with the deepest inventory in every major city, an English interface, and a structured application pack built into the product. [Visit portal](https://www.immobilienscout24.de/)national portal. Browsing free; optional MieterPlus (tenant-plus) paid subscription for application priority and SCHUFA certificate bundle. Pros - Market leader with the deepest inventory in every major city - English UI available; structured application documents (Bewerbungsmappe) built in - Price-atlas and neighbourhood data per listing Cons - Extreme competition per listing in Berlin/Munich, response rates are low without a complete document pack - Landlord/agent scam ads occur; never pay before a viewing or a signed contract Best for Long-term flats once you have SCHUFA and payslips ### immowelt (AVIV Group) The strong number two, carrying private landlords and small agencies that never appear on ImmoScout24, and unusually deep in mid-sized cities. [Visit portal](https://www.immowelt.de/)national portal. Browsing free; MieterPlus premium tier (~EUR 24.99/month, early-2025 reference) with credit-check bundle. Pros - Strong #2 portal; carries listings (esp. private landlords and smaller agencies) absent from ImmoScout24 - Particularly deep coverage in mid-sized cities and regional markets - Immonet.de inventory is being consolidated into immowelt under AVIV Germany's brand simplification (2025/26 transition) Cons - English translation incomplete, some forms revert to German - Significant overlap with ImmoScout24; always cross-check both Best for Mid-sized cities and private landlords the leader misses ### Kleinanzeigen.de, Immobilien Most private landlords. The largest supply of private landlords in Germany, with free contact and no commission, at the cost of the highest scam exposure of any German platform. [Visit portal](https://www.kleinanzeigen.de/)classifieds. Free to browse and contact. Pros - Largest private-landlord supply in Germany, many no-commission direct rentals - Rich in WG rooms, sublets and short-notice offers; free contact Cons - Highest rental-scam exposure of any German platform: advance-fee and fake-viewing fraud common, never transfer money before keys and contract - German-only; no structured application documents Best for Commission-free direct rentals and short-notice offers ### WG-Gesucht.de Best for a WG room. The reference flatshare marketplace, with an English interface, free contact and city guides that quote typical room rents. [Visit portal](https://www.wg-gesucht.de/)flatshare portal. Browsing and contacting free; optional Plus subscription (EUR 20.90 for 1 month / EUR 19.90 per month for 3 / EUR 13.90 per month for 12, Apr 2026) boosts application visibility. Pros - The reference flatshare (WG, Wohngemeinschaft) marketplace; English UI available - Also carries 1-room apartments and furnished temporary lets - City guides quote typical room rents (e.g., Berlin 450-650 EUR, Munich 650-850 EUR, Cologne 500-700 EUR, 2026) Cons - Good rooms in Berlin/Munich/Hamburg go within hours, set alerts and reply fast - Scams exist in private messages: no payment before a real or live-video viewing Best for A room in a shared flat, in English ### Immonet.de A legacy portal whose inventory is being consolidated into immowelt under AVIV Germany's brand simplification. [Visit portal](https://www.immonet.de/)national portal legacy. Free to browse and contact. Pros - Residual listings historically strong in Bavaria and the south-east Cons - Being wound down as a separate brand, expect redirects and shrinking inventory; prefer immowelt directly Best for Legacy listings moving into immowelt ### ohne-makler.net Commission-free rentals direct from private landlords, strongest in southern Germany. [Visit portal](https://www.ohne-makler.net/)regional no commission. Partially, free browsing historically; some tiers paid for contact. Pros - Commission-free rentals direct from private landlords, strong in southern Germany (Bavaria/Baden-Württemberg) - Commercial and residential mix Cons - Smaller inventory than the big portals; verify current pricing model before paying for contact features Best for Commission-free rentals in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg ### Wohnungsbörse.net A free private-landlord marketplace with search orders that alert you to new commission-free offers. [Visit portal](https://www.wohnungsboerse.net/)regional no commission. Free to browse and contact. Pros - Private-landlord rental marketplace with free contact; decent coverage of smaller cities - Search orders alert tenants to new commission-free offers Cons - Thin inventory in the hottest metros; German-only Best for Private landlords in smaller cities ### Immobilienportal der Sparkassen (immobilien.sparkasse.de) The federated portal of around 350 local Sparkasse brokerage arms, which is where small-town and regional stock often sits. [Visit portal](https://immobilien.sparkasse.de/)regional bank network. Free to browse and contact. Pros - Federated portal of ~350 local Sparkasse banks' brokerage arms, strong regional and small-town coverage - Trusted local agents; useful for buying as well as renting Cons - Coverage depends on the local Sparkasse's activity; uneven by region - German-only Best for Regional and small-town listings through local agents ### Wunderflats Best before arrival. Furnished flats from one month upwards, English-first, with Anmeldung-capable addresses on many listings, which is exactly what a newcomer needs first. [Visit portal](https://wunderflats.com/)furnished temporary. Browsing free; booking via platform with service fee built into rent. Pros - Furnished apartments for 1-month-plus stays; English-first, Berlin-founded - Anmeldung-capable addresses on many listings, critical for newcomers needing registration - Verified landlords reduce scam exposure Cons - Rents well above unfurnished market, a bridging solution, not a long-term one - Confirm in writing that the address permits Anmeldung before booking Best for Furnished bridging flats with Anmeldung-capable addresses ### HousingAnywhere An international furnished marketplace that can be booked entirely from abroad in English, with payment protection. [Visit portal](https://housinganywhere.com/)furnished temporary. Browsing free; service fee charged on first rent payment. Pros - International furnished-room and studio marketplace with German city coverage - Bookable fully from abroad in English with payment protection Cons - Service fee and premium pricing; inventory concentrated in big student cities - Check Anmeldung eligibility per listing Best for Booking a furnished room from abroad ## Will the Address Let You Register? This is the question that decides whether a flat is usable, and it is not the same question as whether the rent is affordable. The **Anmeldung** requires a **Wohnungsgeberbestätigung** from whoever gives you the home, and some short-term and holiday lets simply do not provide one. Without the registration you do not get a **Meldebescheinigung**, and your **Steuer-ID** never arrives. Wunderflats markets Anmeldung-capable addresses on many listings and advises confirming in writing before booking. HousingAnywhere tells you to check eligibility listing by listing. Do that before the deposit leaves your account, not after. ## What Documents Do German Landlords Ask For? Competition per listing in Berlin and Munich is severe, and ImmoScout24 notes that response rates are low without a complete document pack. That pack is what a newcomer is missing. - **SCHUFA credit record.** The one landlords demand and newcomers do not have. ImmoScout24 and immowelt both sell a paid tier that bundles a credit certificate. - **Payslips.** Usually the last three, which presupposes a job that presupposes a [Steuer-ID](/moving/tax-number-social-security-health-card). - **Passport or ID.** - **A complete application profile.** On WG-Gesucht a full profile with a photo is expected, and the flatmate interview, the WG-Casting, is a real step. ## What Do Rooms and Flats Cost? For shared-flat rooms, WG-Gesucht's own city guides quote [typical 2026 rents](/moving/cost-of-living-by-city) of **EUR 450 to 650 in Berlin**, **EUR 650 to 850 in Munich** and **EUR 500 to 700 in Cologne**. The portals themselves are free to browse. Where they charge, it is for application priority rather than for access: WG-Gesucht lists its Plus subscription at EUR 20.90 for one month, EUR 19.90 a month for three or EUR 13.90 a month for twelve as of April 2026, and immowelt referenced a MieterPlus tier at around EUR 24.99 a month in early 2025. Furnished platforms are different again: Wunderflats builds a service fee into the rent, and HousingAnywhere charges a service fee on the first rent payment. Expect a furnished bridging flat to cost well above the unfurnished market. Wunderflats says so itself, and calls its own product a bridging solution rather than a long-term one. ## How Do You Avoid Rental Scams? - **Never transfer money before keys and a contract.** Kleinanzeigen.de carries the highest rental-scam exposure of any German platform, with advance-fee and fake-viewing fraud common. - **Insist on a viewing, live video at minimum.** WG-Gesucht warns about scams in private messages and advises no payment before a real or live-video viewing. - **Do not assume the big portal is safe.** ImmoScout24 also sees landlord and agent scam ads. - **Prefer verified inventory when booking blind.** Wunderflats verifies landlords, and HousingAnywhere offers payment protection, which is what you are paying the premium for. ## Related Guides [### Renting as a Foreigner Getting a lease without a SCHUFA record.](/moving/renting-as-a-foreigner)[### Cost of Living What the official budget yardstick is, city by city.](/moving/cost-of-living-by-city)[### Anmeldung The registration your new address has to support.](/moving/address-registration)[### Job Platforms The payslips landlords want to see.](/moving/job-platforms) ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Which housing portal is biggest in Germany? ImmoScout24 has the deepest inventory, with around 513,000 active listings reported through Scout24 company reporting and roughly 19 million users a month across web and app. Kleinanzeigen.de is larger in raw ad count in its property category, around 620,000 ads as of 31 July 2025, but it is a classifieds site rather than a curated portal. ### Can you rent in Germany without a SCHUFA record? Rarely on the main portals. Landlords routinely ask for a SCHUFA credit record that a newcomer has not had time to build, which is the single biggest barrier for arrivals. The usual workaround is a furnished mid-term let from Wunderflats or HousingAnywhere for the first months, then a normal lease once payslips and a SCHUFA record exist. ### Does every address let you do the Anmeldung? No, and this is the trap. Some short-term and holiday lets cannot be registered at all, which leaves you unable to complete the Anmeldung and therefore unable to receive your Steuer-ID. Wunderflats flags Anmeldung-capable listings and advises confirming in writing before booking; HousingAnywhere tells you to check eligibility per listing. ### Where do you find a room in a shared flat? WG-Gesucht.de is the reference marketplace for a WG, a shared flat. It states that up to 200,000 new ads are posted a month, browsing and contacting are free, and its city guides quote typical 2026 room rents of EUR 450 to 650 in Berlin, EUR 650 to 850 in Munich and EUR 500 to 700 in Cologne. ### How do you avoid rental scams in Germany? Never transfer money before you have keys and a signed contract. Kleinanzeigen.de carries the highest rental-scam exposure of any German platform, with advance-fee and fake-viewing fraud common. Scams also appear in private messages on WG-Gesucht, which advises no payment before a real or live-video viewing, and paid ads occur even on ImmoScout24. --- Source: https://www.guide-germany.com/moving/housing Last updated: n/a Format: LLM-readable Markdown twin (.md) of the canonical HTML page.